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April 2014 Moms
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My Baby only naps in my arms...

Jazma11Jazma11 member
in April 2014 Moms
My little guy had GI issues and had an upset tummy all the time. To get him to sleep we would sit on a yoga ball and bounce with him and then once he fell asleep, he would hold him to keep him asleep. Now that his belly is fine during the day, he doesn't need to be held but he wants to be. He got used to it and now won't nap any other way. I have tried putting him down over and over and he wakes up immediately. I am not a big fan of CIO but I think something needs to be done. I know there is at least one other momma who still holds their baby for naps...I read it on your confessional. Who's with me? What are we gonna do about this? Lol.
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Re: My Baby only naps in my arms...

  • BADASBKRCKBADASBKRCK member
    Sounds goofy, but in one of those "parenting hacks" articles they filled a soft glove with rice that you can warm up a little and lay it across your LO's back to fool them into thinking you are holding them. Not sure if that works, but I know sometimes after laying DD down I have to stand there with my hand on her back to trick her

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  • Jazma11Jazma11 member
    I have seen that, lol. Keeping my hand on him at night helps but not for naps. He just immediately wakes up and won't lay back down.
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  • Sporty1216Sporty1216 member
    @cantwait87, I didn't confess to this, but it has been the case for me too for a long time.  He did a great job napping in his crib for a long while and then our sitter started watching him and is afraid to take him up the stairs and always holds him for naps.  So, he stopped napping in his crib.  But, I started holding him for naps in his room and then just started occasionally trying to put him down in the crib once he was pretty out (going against all sleep training advice, I know).  One day, it just worked! So, maybe just keep trying and see if you can hold him in his room if you aren't doing that already?  

    Also, I probably need to still do something different too, because he isn't linking up his sleep cycles--so, today, for example, he woke up after 45 minutes and I went up and held him as he slept for another 45.  I usually prepare work that I can do on my phone (reading, etc.) to help me feel a little better about it all.  

    Honestly, I'm anxious for the day he goes to one nap a day.  And also when I can talk with him about what he needs to do and how I can help him do it.  I tell myself naps and sleep in general will be much better then (I block out the part about how counter-negotiations will also be part of that scenario! Ha!)

    Hang in there and please share any tricks you come up with!
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  • Jazma11Jazma11 member
    Thanks for the hope! We started holding him in his room about a month ago rather than in the living room. I was hoping that would help but so far, no luck. I will keep you posted if I find something that works! Good luck to you too!
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  • JWest07JWest07 member
    My LO would only nap in my arms until about a month ago. It was. long 4 to 5 month stretch of that. I just got to the point where I would rock him to sleep and then put him in his crib. I will admit there was crying involved. I am not a "sleep trainer" though. I would trust my instincts, and go to him if his cry sounded desperate, but I would leave him I he just sounded like he was protesting/complaining/fussing. My experience with both my kids is that you do NOT have to follow a by the book sleep training. I did have to toughen up and allow some tears, but never if it didn't feel right.
    My LO now naps very well on his own twice every day in his own crib. You can get through this phase. Just trust your instincts and do what feels right.
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  • woodstephaniewoodstephanie member
    I was the one who confessed to that. Im interested in hearing what others have done as well. I need to do something soon to help him sleep in his own crib during the day. He has no problem sleeping in there at night. I love my son but being a SAHM 4 days a week and holding for naps means I mever get a break from him!
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  • BADASBKRCKBADASBKRCK member
    JWest07 said:

    My experience with both my kids is that you do NOT have to follow a by the book sleep training.

    You are speaking my language here! I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one who doesn't worry about books and acronyms!

    March siggy challenge: Dream job = Playing with wolves

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  • JWest07JWest07 member
    Haha @BADASBKRCK‌ I did read all the books. So much reading when DS1 was a baby and horrible sleeper. It didn't matter though, none of it seemed to be right for us. I felt so pressured to "fix" all of his "issues". I'm glad that I just waited until it felt right and he seemed ready to modify any behaviors that needed it.
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